Dental apparatus for use in making dentures



Patented May 9, 1950 S PATENT OFFICE DENTAL APPARATUS FOR USE INnns'roarzs Nathan Opotow, New York, N. Y. Application July 7, 1948,Serial No. 31,374

12 Claims. '12

This invention relates to dental plates. and more particularly to amethod apparatus for securing a correct relationship between thecomponent parts of the denture. The invention is an improvement over theapparatus disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,239,295 of April 22, 1941.

As was set forth in the above patent, the fundamental steps in theCOhstruction oi dental plates are:

a. Taking an impression of the mouth in suitable plastic material,generally plaster of Paris or the like. i

b. Forming a positive model from the. impression.

Forming a base plate on the model 1. Securing to base plate a means toregister the center position of the jaw, and

e. Transferring the resulting registration .of the mouth to anarticulator and thereaiter set.- ting teeth in said model.

It was pointed out that the steps ofsecuring the proper relationship ofthe jaws includin the bite was most difiicult of achievement and thatvarious technics for establishing centric and other functionalrelationships have been devised.

The above mentioned patent provided a new system wherein a yieldable padwas maintained centrally of one plate while a projection for engagingsaid pad was disposed cen ral @f th opposing plate. The purpose was toeffect a natural closure of the jaws under simulated bit.- ing pressure.I have now discovered that this action may be further improved bytransfe rin the biting pressure of a central position of the plates to aside position. As will be pointed out hereinafter, such side dispositionpermits a better distribution of stress and therefore a mere positivefunctional seat for the ultimate denture A further advantage is that thepatient may swallow in a natural manner. while registering his bite soas to provide a superior registration.

Another object of this invention is to not only provide means forregistering a bite under natural stress, but to embody an alternativemethod in substantially the same apparatus. Such alternative methodserves to identify any acquired position due to a faulty conditionpresent, and a means for correcting the same.

Other objects of my invention will be apparent from the followingdescription, it being understood that the above general statements ofthe objects of my invention are intended to describe and not limit it inany ;r nanner.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of the improved apparatus as it isemployed in taking a patients bite.

Fig 2 is a plan view of the upper bite plate as Viewed along the lines'2 2 of Fig. 1'. t

Fig. 3 is ,a plan view of thelower bite plate as viewed along thelines3, 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. l a plan view of the spacer element.

Fig. 5. is a view similar to 3 and showing the application of the sideof the laterally disposed springs and the bite registering material intbelo e b te pl Fig. 6 is an elevaticnal yiew of the springs used toprovi e s m lat on f natural b ting pressure.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a plaster insert employed as asubstitute for the registration material of Fig. 5 and whereby a gothicarch tracing b efi ted In the drawings, 1;) may represent either theupper cast or upper gum area of the patient, the gum ridges havingformed thereover a base plate wh h may b subs ant l y covered by aiupper bite plate i2 is initially'secured to such wag; ii. The lower eastor lower gum area M has a base plate substantially covered with wax 15,such wax having the lower bite plate iii mainta ned ther n a by be n ati y bedded, as will be hereinafter described. Inserted between the biteplates I2 and i6 is a spacer plate !'l which is removed when the bite istaken.

The assembly above noted, excluding the spacer, is that which obtainswhen the patient is ready to effect the registration bite, but theactual method of arriving such assembly is as .iOllOws tient is thentold to bring his jaws together and wax material will be added orsubtracted from height of wax H until thedesired verticalopening isachieved. At this time, the upper. plate l2 is sealed to the wax l l.

The spacer ii is nowremovecl and is not used thereafter. It will beobserved that spacer ii is formed with openings it to permit thetraverse therethrough of the upper bite plate scrapers and front pin ashereinafter described.

Upper bite plate l2 has formed integrally I front pin 20.

therewith a pair of depending triangular shaped scrapers at the sidesthereof and a depending These traverse the openings H3 in spacer plateduring the accomplishment of vertical dimension as set forth above. Thelower bite plate l6 has formed thereon a pair of cells 3| and 32, afront depression 33 and a pair of recesses 34 and 35. Recesses 34 and 35are made annular by the provision of central pins 36 and 31. Annularrecesses or openings 34 and 35 are designed to receive spring inserts 38having coil springs 39 which embrace the pins 36 and 31 so as to beretained in such annular openings.

When the spacer I! has been removed as above noted, springs 38 whichhave metallic, smooth heads 40 are set into the recesses 34 and 35, asdisclosed in Fig. 5. It may be here noted that springs 39 may beprovided of varying compression strength so as to accommodate theinstrument to the strength of a particular patient. Thus, a very weakpatient may require weaker springs so as to be able to produce a biteunder pressure as hereinafter set forth.

The apparatus is now ready to be employed for the first method ofregistering the patients bite. First, a smear of wax 52 is deposited onthe surface of plate 33. The patient is then instructed to close uponthe spring members 38 and to simulate a chewing action. The front pin 20will thereupon describe a triangle 35 in the nature of a gothic archtracing as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The apex of thetriangle generally represents centric. However, this step is merely usedas a check on the subsequent bite which the patient is instructed tomake.

Wax inserts designated in Fig. as 59 and 5| are placed in cells 3| and32. Such inserts are in the form of a block resembling in appearance theplaster insert illustrated in Fig. 7 as distinguished from the smear 52in cell 33. The patient is instructed to relax. He is then told toswallow hard or forcefully whereupon the bite plates are broughttogether under functional pressure and the triangular index holes ormarks are registered in the inserts 5D and 5| respectively, and thefront pin will register a point on wax 52 on plate 33. This operationmay be repeated many times in order to insure the accuracy of theregistration.

At this time, a comparison is made between the gothic arch apex and theindex point obtained through swallowing. If they are both located in thesame place, it will indicate a normal position. A variation willindicate that there is an acquired position present which will correctitself in due time. However, allowances must be made at this time so asnot to traumatize the underlying tissues in the interim. It will alsoallow for comfort and usefulness during the initial period of denturewearing.

Therefore, if both central points are identical, the bite platestogether with the waxed up base plates are removed from the patientsmouth, the springs 38 are removed therefrom and the bite plates arereplaced in their registering position, the index marks 53 and 54guiding the restoration of the plates to the proper bite relationshipand the front pin 20 resting on the index point. with wax and are thenarticulated. The remaining steps will be apparent to those skilled inthe art, the bite having been properly established.

If there is a discrepancy present between the The bite plates are thensealed apex and the index point, the wax blocks 5|! and 5| are removedand set aside for later use. Two plaster blocks 60 are placed inposition and the patient is instructed to move the law from side to sideunder stress, thereby inscribing a gothic arch tracing in the plasterblocks 60. Thereafter, the bite plates together with the waxed up baseplates are sealed together and articulated as described before. Theteeth are now set up to conform to this registration. The plaster blocksare now removed and the wax blocks are inserted into the lower biteplate. The models are now re-articulated to this registration. Allinterferences are now removed by grinding the teeth where necessary.

The above mentioned operations described the first method ofestablishing the proper bite which substantially duplicated the systemdescribed in my prior patent but wherein the spring compression memberswere disposed laterally instead of centrally. The advantages of suchdisposition are at least twofold. Firstly, the disposition of separatespring members 38 on each side of the jaw permits differential bitingcompression so as to take into account varyin degrees of displacabilityof the tissues. This is not as well accomplished with the centraldisposition of the resilient cushion since such central cushionaccommodates both sides of the mouth simultaneously. The elimination ofthe central plat-- form is of importance in permitting the patient toswallow naturally during recording of the bite.

The Gothic arch tracing described in the above steps is superior to thetype of tracing commonly in use at the present time because of the factthat the springs 38 are holding the bases in a functional position whilethe tracing is being inscribed. In other words, the gothic arch tracingis derived while a natural bite is being taken or simulated. Thescraping is performed during a natural chewin action with the musclesfunctioning naturally. The springs 38 serve the further purpose oflimiting the scraping pressure on the plaster inserts 5D and likewiseprevent locking action thereon. Accordingly, it is possible to achieve atrue Gothic arch registration in the plaster insert 60.

The apparatus described thus not only improves upon the apparatus of theabove mentioned patent, but it combines a system of Gothic arch tracingtherewith. It will be observed that the spring heads 40 when polishedand thus rendered smooth, permit such lateral movement between thecontacting biting plates as to render possible the Gothic arch tracinwhile a bite is being taken.

While there has been described what at present is considered a preferredembodiment of the invention, it will be evident that many changes andmodifications may be made therein without departing from its spirit. Itis therefore aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes andmodifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. A dental apparatus for use in making dentures comprising upper andlower substantially U-shaped bite plates, and spring means disposed onthe arms of one of said bite plates and opposite the arms of the otherbite plate whereby a bite may be effected by bringing said platestogether against the action of said spring means.

2. A dental apparatus for use in making dentures comprising upper andlower substantially U-shaped bite plates, spring means disposed on thearms of one of said bite plates and opposite the arms of the other biteplate whereby a bite may be effected in the mouth of a patient bybringing said plates together against the action of said spring means,and means on one of said plates for recording the position of the otherplate in respect thereto when a bite has been thus effected.

3. A dental apparatus for use in making dentures comprising upper andlower substantially U-shaped bite plates, spring means disposed on thearms of one of said bite plates and opposite the arms of the other biteplate whereby a bite may be effected in the mouth of a patient bybringing said plates together against the action of said spring means,and projections formed on one of said plates for recording the postiionof the other plate in respect thereto when a bite has been thusefiected.

4. A dental apparatus for use in making dentures comprising upper andlower substantially U-shaped bite plates, spring means disposed on thearms of one of said bite plates and opposite the arms of the other biteplate whereby a bite may be effected in the mouth of a patient bybringing said plates together against the action of said spring means,and projections formed on one of said plates for recording the positionof the other plate in respect thereto when a bite has been taken, saidprojections being formed on the arms of its plate and the opposing platehaving cells formed in its arms and directly below said projections whena bite is being taken, said cells being adapted to receive a plasticsubstance whereby said projections may penetrate said plastic substanceand effect a registration of the bite taken.

5. A dental apparatus for use in making dentures comprising upper andlower substantially U-shaped bite plates, and spring members disposed onthe arms of one of said bite plates so as to be compressed by the otherof said bite plates when a bite is being taken, and smooth heads formedon said spring members whereby the other or opposing bite plate mayslide thereover while compressing the spring members.

6. A dental apparatus for use in making dentures comprising upper andlower substantially U-shaped bite plates, and spring members disposed onthe arms of one of said bite plates so as to be compressed by the otherof said bite plates when a bite is being taken, and smooth heads formedon said spring members whereby the other or opposing bite plate mayslide thereover while compressing the spring members, a pair ofprojections formed on the arms of one of said plates, means on the otherof said plates for recording the position of said projections when abite has been taken, and a spacer plate adapted to be inserted betweenthe bite plates, said spacer plate having openings formed therein so asto permit said projections to traverse said openings.

7. A dental apparatus for use in making dentures comprising upper andlower substantially U-shaped bite plates, spring members on the arms ofone Of said bite plates whereby said bite plates may be brought togetheragainst the action of said spring members when taking a bite,projections formed on one of said plates for recording the position ofthe other plate in respect thereto when a bite has been taken, the biteplate not having said projections being formed with cells directly belowsaid projections when the apparatus is assembled, said bite plate whichis formed with said cells having a central cell formed therein, and adependent point edged pin on the bite plate not having said cells andbeing formed directly above said central cell when the apparatus isassembled.

8. A dental apparatus according to claim '7 and wherein said projectionsare triangular in cross section.

9. A dental apparatus for use in making dentures comprising upper andlower substantially U-shaped bite plates, spring members having smoothheads arranged to be disposed on the arms of one of said bite plateswhereby said bite plates may be brought together against the action ofsaid spring members when a bite is effected, triangular projectionsformed on one of said plates for registering the proper position of theother plate in respect thereto when a bite has been taken, a pin formedon said bite plate having projections, said pin being disposedsubstantially at the apex of the U-shaped bite plate, the bite plate nothaving said projections or pin, being formed with cells for reception ofmaterial to be recorded upon by said projections and pin, said cellsbeing disposed directly under the respective projections and pin whenthe apparatus is assembled in bite-taking position.

10. A dental apparatus according to claim 9 and wherein said springmembers comprise coil springs having said smooth heads formed thereonwhereby the bit plates may have relative lateral movement while saidspring members are being compressed thereby.

11. A dental apparatus for use in making dentures comprising upper andlower bite plates, spring members connected to one of said bite platesand adjacent lateral edges thereof and being free of the other biteplate whereby a bite may be effected against the action of said springmembers, projections formed on one of said bite plates for recording theregistration thereof with the other bite plate when a bite has beentaken,

said projections being disposed adjacent lateral edges of the biteplates, the bite plate which does not have projections being formed withcells directly below said projections when the apparatus is assembled,said cells being adapted to receive a plastic substance whereby saidprojections may bite into said plastic substance and effect aregistration of the bite taken.

12. A dental apparatus according to claim 11 and further including acentrally disposed pin in one of said plates and a further cell formedopposite thereto in the other plate for receiving a plastic substancewhereby said last named plastic substance may be recorded upon by saidpin.

- NATHAN OPOTOW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Dowell Apr. 30, 1907 FOREIGN PATENTSCountry Date France June 22, 1925 Number Number

